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The Tin Kin
by
Eleanor Thom
When her aunt Shirley dies, Dawn finds herself back in her claustrophobic home town in Northern Scotland for the first time in years. She spends her days caring for her small daughter, listening to tapes of old country songs and cleaning Shirley s flat, until one day she comes across the key to a cupboard that she was forbidden to open as a child. Inside she finds an album...more
Paperback
Published
by Duckworth Publishing
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Eleanor Thom's debut novel is based partly on her own family history, the detail contained within this story is so convincing alongside the clever use of the Scottish dialect.
The story has three narrators, each coming from a different era and each having a magical use of language and eye for detail.
The modern-day narrator Dawn has recently returned to the Highland town of her youth. She has a small daughter and has escaped a violent relationship. Her Aunt Shirley who brought her up, ...more
The story has three narrators, each coming from a different era and each having a magical use of language and eye for detail.
The modern-day narrator Dawn has recently returned to the Highland town of her youth. She has a small daughter and has escaped a violent relationship. Her Aunt Shirley who brought her up, ...more
This is a novel about family secrets stretching over time and generations. Dawn returns to Elgin with her child form her aunt's funeral.She gradually uncovers family secrets. There are four narrators; one in the present (Dawn)and three in the 1950s. The 1950s narrators are from a travelling family and there is an ill-fated love affair between two people from different social backgrounds. The child's narrativr voice is very good. The dialect the 1950s narrators use takes a little getting used to....more
This book was disappointing to me. I read it for my book group and as usual I am going to bemoan again. I never felt myself become detached from reality while reading and like any good book or film, this is an essential part of the experience for me.
The narrative shifts from one character to another spanning many decades and 3 generations. The descriptions of old photographs and mementos culminate in a young woman in present day being able to fit together pieces of an unsolved puzz...more
The narrative shifts from one character to another spanning many decades and 3 generations. The descriptions of old photographs and mementos culminate in a young woman in present day being able to fit together pieces of an unsolved puzz...more
The Tin Kin is an unusual debut novel from a young story teller, who expertly uses her own family background, in order to capture the essence of poverty, deprivation and tragedy in a gypsy family in 1950’s Scotland. The narrator, Dawn, escaping an unhappy relationship, returns with her child, to her roots in present day Northern Scotland. She discovers a long buried family secret, which is expertly uncovered in a series of flashback vignettes, revealing the story of lives shattered by misfortune...more
I liked this book but found it slower going than I had expected. The split perspective is effective but could benefit from a bit more link between the two in order to give the reader more of a taste of where the story is going. I found the ending a little less satisfying than I had predicted, but I can't quite put my finger on why: perhaps I would have liked to know more about what became of some of the characters.
recommended by Guardian's "best of new novelists" article Feb-11
Not in the same calibre as the other promising debut british authors of last year. I was disappointed.
Well this went back to the library today after staring at me reproachfully from the bookshelf as I continually bypassed it in favour of other books for more months than I care to admit. Angie, I blame you! You so thoroughly put me off that I just couldn't spare the time to find out for myself. You see? I trust your judgement completely! So many books, so little time - alas some must fall by the wayside!
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Hoping I can understand the Doric in this, as it sounds like a great read!
Rita
marked it as to-read
Renee
marked it as to-read
Miriam
marked it as to-read
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